Apparatus for space transmission of energy.



F. H, MILLENER.

APPARATUS FOR SPACE TRANSMISSION OF ENERGY.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1911.

1 $205,469. Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

2 5HEETSSHEET I.

IIIMIIIQEIIMIM IV] DVESSES F.. H. MILLENER. APPARATUSFOR SPACE TRANSMISSION OF ENERGY.

APPLICATIQN FILED APR. I0. 19!].

1,205,469. r Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Z SjE/TS-SHEET 2.

5 5? 7 a if 5. W l 56- 65 FREDERICK HOYEB MILLENER, 0F OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

APPARATUS FOR SPACE TRANSMISSJQION OF ENERGY.

Application filed April 10, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK HOYER MiLLENER, citizen ofthe United States of America, and residing in Omaha, in the State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Space Transmission of Energy.

My invention has for its more important object the accurate and economical transmission of speech and of signals throu 11 space, and without the aid of wires or li e conductors, but may be utilized for the transmission of energy for a variety of purposes, either for the actuation or the control of translating devices.

In order clearly to explain the invention, and the most perfect means now known to me for practising the same, ll shall first describe the complete apparatus, and thereafter point out in the claims those matters which are specifically claimed herein.

The features to which the invention pertains, or in which novelty resides, are: A method of generating high frequency oscillations, by means of which energy may be transmitted to a distance through space, and delivered or reproduced at a distant point in the form of sounds, articulate speech, visual signals, or energy; a method of and means for cooling an electrode constituting one of a pair between which an arc is formed in a circuit for generating high frequency oscillations; and a method I of and means for generating and maintainratus. i

Fig. 3, an end elevation of the same; Fig. 4,.

ing about such arc, or about a plurality of such arcs, an atmosphere of hydrogen, for the purpose of increasing the frequency and the intensity of oscillations, eliminating or preventing the hissing of the arc and diminution of potential, and causing the arc or arcs to burn steadily and quietly.

Certain of the above features of invention have been made the subject matter of divisional applications hereinafter specifically set forth, the claims of the present application being restricted to the general appa- The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the complete apparatus; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the hydrogen-generating apparatus within which is or are produced the are or arcs in the high frequency oscillation circuit;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Serial no. 620,035.

a vertical, longitudinal section on the line ofFig. 3; and Fig. 5, a transverse vertical section on the line A-B of Fig. 2. Referring first to Fig. 1, the numeral 1 1nd1cates a positive conductor proceeding from a battery, generator, or other source, 2, of direct current. 3 indicates an inductively wound choke coil, introduced into the circuit of said generator or source of current to prevent the high frequency oscillations generated in said circuit as hereinafter explained, from flowing back into the dynamo, battery, or other source of current.

4 indicates the primary coil or winding of a transformer, one end of which is connected with or forms a continuation of the conductor 1, and the other end of which passes to, or is electrically connected With, a positive electrode 5, here represented as of cylindrical form, and designed to be rotated by any suitable mechanism or means. The electrode 5, as also the companion electrode 7, is arranged Within achamber 14 containing a cooling liquid, 6, in which the electrode 5 is partially immersed. The electrode 7 'passes through and is insulated from a Wall of the chamber 14 and is electrically connected with a variable resistance 9, one extremity of which is electrically connected through one winding of the choke coil 3 and a conductor 10 with the negative brush or terminal of the gen erator or source, 2, of current. The positive electrode 5 may be of any electrically conductive substance, but in practice I have found copper to give very good results. The electrode 7 may similarly be of any electrically conductive solid, but is preferably of carbon.

The cooling liquid, 6, is introduced into the chamber 14 by a pipe or tube 6 entering at or near the bottom of the chamber, and is prevented from rising above a predetermined level by an outlet pipe or tube 6", the upper end of Which rises to the desired level of the liquid, and is left open to permit the free escape of any liquid rising above such level. In practice, it is found expedient to establish this level about onehalf inch, more or less, below the axis of the rotary electrode 5.

When the apparatus is in operation, the electrode 7 is caused to make contact with the electrode 5, and is then separated thereducting material may be employed. These tubes or containers are connected one with the other at their lower ends, the upper end of tube 11 passing through and rising above the chamber 14 where it is open to the atmosphere, and the tube 12 terminating within the chamber 14 at a point some dis;

tance above the level of the liquid 6.

13 indicates a reservoir for containing an electrolyte, which may advantageously be potassium hydrate. This reservoir communicates at its lower end with the tubes 11 and 12, or with the electrolyte container connecting them, so that the electrolyte shall maintain a common level in said tubes and reservoir. That portion of.the inlet or connecting pipe which passes from the reservoir 13 through the wall of and into the chamber 14, should be made of nonconducting material, or should be electrically insulated from the wall and contents of the chamber, and must, 'of course, make a liquid-tight joint with said casing.

15 and 16 represent electrodes, preferably of platinum, arranged respectively within the tubes 11 and 12, and immersed wholly or partially in the electrolyte standing in said tubes. These electrodes are included in a shunt circuit comprising a conductor 1 leading from a point on the positive conductor 1 betweenthesource, 2, of current and the choke coil 3, to the electrode 15, said electrode 15, the electrolyte, electrode 16, a conductor 16 passing from said electrode 16 through and insulated from a wall of the chamber 14, a variable resistance 17 with one terminal of which said conductor 16' is electrically connected, and a Wire or conductor 17 electrically connected with the negative conductor 10 at a point between the generator or source, 2, of current and choke coil 3, and having a variable connection of any usual type with the resistance 17. The office of the variable resistance 17 is to control the current flowing through the shunt circuit and through the electrolyte in the tubes 11 and 12.

The details of construction of the hydrogen generator will be more fully described after explanation of the remaining portions of Fig. 1. Still referring to said Fig. 1, 20 indicates the secondary coil of a transformer, the primary 4 of which is included in the energizing circuit, as above mentioned. One terminal of the coil 20 is grounded at 18 through a variable condenser 19, while its other terminal connects with one extremity of a variable inductance 21 electrically connected with a variable condenser 22, in turn menace electrically connected with antennee23, the variable contact or connection with inductance 21 being made in any customary way. 24 and 25 indicate condensers, each of, preferably, two microfarad capacity. Condenser 24 is included in a conductor 24 branched from conductor 1 at a point between the choke coil 3 and the primary 4 of the transformer, and condenser 25 is included in a conductor 25 similarly led from conductor 10 at a point between the choke coil 3 and variable resistance 9, the conductors 24 and 25' beyond said condensers being bridged or connected by the secondary coils 26, 27 28, 29, 30 and 31 of open-core transformers, which coils are arranged in parallel. The primary coils 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37 of these open-core transformers are similarly arranged in parallel between the positive and negative conductors of a battery or other source 38, of electric current, each bridge or cross connection through the primary coils being made through or including a megaphone 45, and a very low reslstance, air-cooled transmitter, said transmitters being indicated at 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44. The megaphone 45 which is described and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial Number 730,023, filed November 7 1912, consists of a flaring horn of metal, preferably solid brass, highly polished on its interior surface,.and a smaller mouthpiece, preferably the common standard hard rubber mouthpiece, the two suitably joined at their smaller ends, or at the point indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The purpose of the mouthpiece is to gather and concentrate the sound waves produced by the voice of the person speaking, and to direct them into and through the megaphone or horn, wherein, by reason of the successive reflections of the sound waves from side to side of the horn or'funnel, and the vibration or molecular action set up in the walls of the megaphone, the sound is amplified orstrengthened. While the true cause of such amplification of the sound is a matter more or less in doubt, the fact that such effect is produced is well established and recognized by physicists.

It will thus be seen that the telephone circuit is made up of siX couples, each couple consisting of a low resistance microphone and the primary of a transformer coupled in series with each other, these six couples being connected in parallel between the ter-.

minals of a local battery or other source of energy, while the secondaries of these transformers are all connected in parallel through two two-microfarad condensers to the negative and positive sides of the high frequencv circuit, before the wires pass to the large transformer, or arc electrode or electrodes.

The microphone consists of six air-cooled,

very low resistance transmitters and six open-core transformers, all the primary windings of which contain the same ohmic resistance and the same number of turns of the same size and kind of wire, and all the secondary windings of which similarly contain like ohmic resistance, and are made up of a like number of turns of wire of the same size and kind. In other words, the several induction coils are of identical construction.

Having thus described the general construction and arrangement of parts, and before describing their operation, the details of construction of the hydrogen generator will be explained in connection with Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5. As shown in said figures, this apparatus consists of a cylindrical vessel or chamber with a suitable base or support, and with flat vertical walls. Passing axially through said chamber, and insulated from the walls thereof by suitable insulating collars 64, is a shaft 63 upon which is keyed or otherwise made fast the cylindrical electrode 5, the shaft and the electrode being conveniently rotated through any suitable driving mechanism, such as a spring motor, conventionally represented at 60, motion being transmitted to the shaft 63 through a driving rim or ring 63 carried by an insulating disk 64, secured by set screws or equivalent means to the shaft 63. Said shaft 63 carries at its opposite end a cylindrical hub or contact 48, upon which rests a conducting brush 47 carried in a suitable support 46, said brush being electrically connected through the primary 4 of the transformer and the choke coil 3, with the positive conductor 1 of the generator or source, 2, of current.

The electrode 7 passes through a sleeve 55, having on its exterior a fine thread, to permit it to screw through a block carried by a plate 56 supported upon but insulated from the top wall of the chamber 14, the insulation being indicated at 64, which designation applies to insulation wherever appearing in these drawings. The fine thread permits accurate adjustment of the electrode 7. The sleeve 55 is provided with a flange or enlargement 53 at a point somewhat above plate 56, which flange forms the support or bearing for a spring 57, which enclrcles a reduced portion of said sleeve 55, and bears at its upper end beneath a nut or collar 54 screwed or adjustably mounted upon the upper portion of the electrode 7. By properly adjusting the nut or collar 54, the normal separation of the lower extremity of the electrode 7 from the electrode 5 may be determined, the sprin when fully extended holding the electrode at the desired arcing distance from the companion electrode. As the electrode 7 is capable of moving through the sleeve 55, though fitting quite closely therein in order to prevent escape of gas from chamber 14, it may be pressed down in o position to the lifting force of spring 5 7, in order to establish contact of the electrodes preparatory to striking the are.

For the purpose of permitting the electrode 7 to be shifted in the direction of the axis of the electrode 5, and thereby to permit the entire surface of the latter to be utilized progressively, the plate 56 is slidably mounted upon the top wall of chamber 14, and the opening in the top of said chamber through which the electrode passes is enlarged sufliciently to permit a considerable range of movement of the electrode 7 in the direction indicated. The motor or driving mechanism 60 is designed to give a slow rotary movement to shaft 63 and electrode 5, the brush 47 and hub 48 maintaining electricalcontact and preserving connection with the source of energy at all times.

In Figs. 2 and 4 I have shown a vent cock 58, which may be opened to permit escape of air or gas from chamber 14; and to permit inspection of the are at any time, a window 59 of smoked or colored glass is pro vided. Binding posts 61 and 62, the former carried by the upper end of tube 11, and the latter carried by but insulated from the wall of chamber 14, serve respectively to make proper connection between the electrodes 15 and 16 and the conductors 1 and 16.

The apparatus being constructed as above set forth, and arranged as illustrated in Fig. 1, and the generator 2, or other source of electric energy, being put in action, the operation is as follows: Electrode 7 is pressed into contact with electrode 5, and permitted to separate therefrom a. predetermined distance under the influence of spring 57, thereby striking the arc, 8, which thereafter continues, the motor 60 causing the electrode 5 to rotate slowly, and thus to present a constantly changing surface in opposition to the electrode 7, lessening the liability of the formation of globules, or the roughening, pitting, or changing'of the surface of said electrode 5, and consequently lessening the danger of varying the length of the arc with resultant change of potential in the arc circuit. At the same time the direct current flowing through the shunt circuit, including the electrodes 15 and 16 and the electrolyte 13, will by its electrolytic action decompose the electrolyte, and liberate oxygen at the electrode or anode 15 and hydrogen at the electrode or cathode 16. The hydrogen rising in and escaping at the top of tube 12, will fill the chamber 14 above the electrolyte, and hence will envelop the are 8, thus preventing the hissing sound occasioned when the arc burns in the presence of oxygen, or in the open air. This eifect of a hydrogen atmosphere is well known, but so far as I am aware no one has heretofore utilized the electric current or izo energy employed in producing the high frequency oscillations to generate or liberate the gas for this purpose. lhe oxygen rises through the tube 11, and escapes to the atmosphere, said tube and the contained electrolyte precluding the entrance of oxygen into the chamber 14.

The cooling of the electrode 5, as above described, materially contributes to the maintenance of a smooth or unchanging surface thereon, and thus further insures the uniform length of arc and constant difierence of potential.

The energizing direct current flowing from the source, 2, through the choke coil 3, primary 4, electrodes 5 and 7 and their intervening are 8, resistance 9, and choke coil 3, backto the source of energy, sets up in the primary 4 of the transformer a high frequency alternating current. This is stepped up through the primary of the transformer into the highly wound secondary 20 of said transformer, which has a closed magnetic circuit energized by an electromotive force of 220 volts, more or less, of direct current'supplied by the generator or source, 2, in the energizing circuit. This high frequency alternating current reaches back to the choke coil 3, which, however precludes the passage of the high frequency oscillations back to the dynamo, battery, or other source, 2, of energizing current, and it is upon this portion of the energizing circuit that the microphone transmitter is imposed, or with which it is placed in circuit. These microphones and the transmitters and transformers, modulate and transform from ten to eighteen amperes of current, producing undulations which are imposed on the oscillating circuit through the condensers 24: and 25.

Upon talking into the mouthpiece of the microphone while the transformer and choke coil circuit is energized, speech is transmitted through the secondary 20, inductance 21, and variable condenser 22-, to the antennae, and through the variable condenser 19 to the earth, and thus radiated into space in the form of waves.

It will thus be seen that I have produced to be highly satisfactory and efiicient.

In the foregoing descriptionyl have mentioned potassium hydrate as the electrolyte, and hydrogen as the neutral gas to be liberated within the arc-containing chamber,

' and this is the preferred embodiment of my invention, but obviously any other neutral,

gas, capable of being generated or liberated through electrolytic action upon a suitable electrolyte, may be employed, my invention in this respect consisting broadly in supplying the gas through electrolytic action, the electric current for which is diverted from the main energizing circuit. By this means a self-contained apparatus is produced, and the generation or liberation of gas is co-incident with the energizing of the main circuit employed to set up the high frequency oscillations.

The above described apparatus for generating high frequency electrical oscillations forms the subject-matter of my application, Serial No. 730,022, filed November 7, 1912, a division of the present application, and hence is not claimed specifically herein.

Having .thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. An apparatus for the wireless transmission of energy through space, comp-rising, in combination, a source of electrical energy; conductors proceeding from the terminals of said source; a choke coil connected with said conductors' a transformer, the primary winding of which is electrically connected with said conductors beyond the choke coil; an electrolytic gas generator; electrodes arranged within communicating insulating tubes in said generator, and included in a shunt circuit from the conducting wires of the source of current between said source and the choke coil, one of said tubes extend ing through and opening outside of a wall of said gas generator and the other opening thereinto; an electrolyte in which'said electrodes are immersed; electrodes included in the conductors or circuit proceeding from the source of energy, and located within said gas generator; a local battery or source of energy; a low resistance microphone transmitter, including a series of open-core transformers, the primary coils of which are arranged in parallel between the terminals of said local battery or source of energy, and the secondary coils of which are arranged in parallel in a shunt circuit branching from the main energizing circuit at points between the choke coil and the primary of the trans former; condensers included in said shunt circuit on each side of the secondary coils; and an ethereal circuit comprising the secondary of a transformer, an inductance, a condenser, and antennae, on one side of the secondary coils, and a condenser and ground connection on the opposite side of said secondary coils of the transformer, substantially as described.

2. In apparatus for wireless transmission of energy, the combination of antennae; a source of electric energy; a conducting circuit therefor; a plurality of low resistance transmitters; a corresponding number of cuit with said transmitters; and two condensers in a shunt from the main circuit between which the secondaries of the transformers are arranged, whereby the transmitters are placed in transmitting relation with the antennae.

3. In apparatus for the wireless transmission of energy, the combination of an oscillation circuit; a source of electric energy therefor; a plurality of couples forming part of said oscillation circuit, each couple consisting of a low resistance microphone-and a transformer, each microphone being connected in series with the primary of the corresponding transformer, the secondaries of said transformers being connected in parallel with each other; and condensers interposed between said secondaries and the re maining portion, of said oscillation circuit and connecting said couples across the terminals of said source.

4. In apparatus for the Wireless transmission of energy, the combination of an osolllation clrcuit; a source of electric energy therefor; a plurality of couples forming part of said oscillation circuit, each couple consisting of a low resistance microphone and a transformer, each microphone being connected in series with the primary of the corresponding transformer, the secondaries of said transformers being connected in parallel with each other; condensers interposed between said secondaries and the remaining portion of said oscillation circuit and connecting said couples across the terminals of said source; and an antenna circuit electrically related to said oscillation circuit.

In testimony whereof-I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

FREDERICK HOYER MILLENEE.

Witnesses:

MURRAY SCHWARTZ, CHARLES P. Ross. 

